The city of Fayetteville has elected a new airport director to lead the regional airport into its next chapter beginning October 2.

Andrew LaGala, an aviation operations and management professional, has been selected as the new director of Fayetteville Regional Airport after an exhaustive 11-month search.

“His extensive experience is very impressive,” said Fayetteville City Manager Douglas Hewett.

He has over 30 years of experience in the aviation field and earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds a private pilot’s license and is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives. He received the Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) designation in 2018.

“I am very pleased to have been selected for this important leadership role as Airport Director of Fayetteville Regional Airport and to contribute to the airport’s continued success and growth,” said LaGala. “Maintaining an efficient, full-service airport with quality airline service is a key element of local economic development efforts, and I see tremendous opportunities for FAY to increase its potential to contribute to these efforts.”

LaGala most recently served as airport director of Lynchburg Regional Airport for five years. In that role, he led several projects, including a post-COVID strategic development plan to restore flight frequency, the rehabilitation of Lynchburg Regional Airport’s main runway, and the implementation of numerous other airport improvement projects.

“Andrew’s knowledge of both airport operations and airline service development will serve the airport well in our future expansion efforts,” Hewett added. “We have already invested more than $60 million in capital improvements in recent years, secured two additional flights to Atlanta, received $5 million for an international terminal and will soon begin construction on a consolidated car rental facility.”